Fuel assembly and associated grid for nuclear reactor

A grid for use in a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor, the grid being structured to carry a plurality of cylindrical members including at least one of a fuel rod and a thimble tube, the grid comprising:

• a plurality of straps;
• the straps being interconnected with one another in a lattice fashion to define a plurality of cells;
• each strap including an upstream edge;
• each strap including a downstream edge;
• the upstream edge and the downstream edge being disposed generally opposite one another;
• each strap including a plurality of strap members;
• each strap member defining a wall of at least one of the cells;
• each strap member including a groove formed therein;
• each strap member including a protruding resilient holding spring;
• each strap member including a protruding dimple;
• the spring and dimple each being formed at least partially by the groove;
• at least a portion of one of the spring and the dimple being disposed between the groove and the upstream edge;
• at least a portion of the other of the spring and the dimple being disposed between the groove and the downstream edge;
• a pair of the springs and a pair of the dimples extending into each of the cells;
• one of the springs of the pair of springs and one of the dimples of the pair of dimples confronting one another;
• and
• the other of the springs of the pair of springs and the other of the dimples of the pair of dimples confronting one another.

A grid for use in a fuel assembly of a nuclear reactor, the grid being structured to carry a plurality of cylindrical members including at least one of a fuel rod and a thimble tube, the grid comprising:

• a plurality of straps;
• the straps being interconnected with one another in a lattice fashion to define a plurality of cells;
• at least a portion of the plurality of straps each including an upstream edge and a downstream edge disposed opposite one another;
• at least a portion of the plurality of straps each including a plurality of strap members;
• at least a portion of the plurality of strap members each being a wall of at least one of the cells;
• at least a portion of the plurality of strap members each including a protruding resilient holding spring and a protruding dimple disposed at alternate sides of at least a portion of a single groove formed in the strap member.